Found this great post at this great blog (church of the customer). According to the folks at BigResearch these new findings from their 15,000-person panel  are  dedicated to understanding how all of these people use media in some large purchases. Word of Mouth was clearly #1. What does this have to do with a Church? Everything. I talk to a lot of people who think that if they can just get their information, their card, whatever in front of people that it will be enough. That people will flock to whatever they are doing or putting together. It just doesn't work that way. People don't think that way. Not anymore.

Right now think about your favorite restaurant. Why or how did you end up going there for the first time? I'll bet dollar to donuts it was because someone told you about it or invited you. Not because someone stuck a flyer on your door or mailed you a postcard. We see this over and over. We estimate somewhere around 90% of people who come to Crossroads came for the first time because they were invited by a friend.

Obviously getting strategic information in front of people is important. But it's not the answer. At Crossroads we tell people ...."give them something to talk about it." and get them to tell their friends. If you are creating a classroom teaching situation,a small group, a serving team, whatever.... make it the best environment  for life change  and as helpful as it can be. When God changes someone life in that environment, they will run and tell everyone about it.